We seek groves of trees, to selectively use for harvest of food, shelter, and fire. Under their giant branches we gain wisdom from their shade.

So Mote it Be.

*

SCOD is like Paganism in its mission. In Paganism there is no single leader, scripture or religious philosophy. Most Pagans, however, believe in the divine character of the natural world and Paganism is often described as an “Earth religion”.

Matt R. Dippie was born a Scientist and Writer with an aptitude for neither. His hobbies include color-coating his pens, and History. He was born in a paper sack in a museum.

Medical Record: Nose lift, punch that smashed in his glasses rendering him blind, 10 years at an insane asylum.

Favorite saying: “That belongs on the press!”

Matt is a famous and wonderful author of children stories. His whimsical approach to story telling makes old fairy tales come to life with gay on look.

– A. Newman

*

Doctor Dippie’s demented fairy tales are inappropriate choking hazards for kids of all ages. This book contains many disturbing bed-time stories with foul language, bad words, offensive curses, and swears. It is banned in all 50 States. If you buy, sell, or own this book you may be arrested and fined by a court of law. Reading this book is known to cause cancer, suicide, sickness, death, depression, warts, insanity, shortness, and stuttering. Do not buy this book. Do not read this book.

You are a Man-A-Kill warrior. At age 24, you are Tartiar The Mighty. A gaping giant plundered and killed people in your tribe. Many warriors have never come back from fighting giants, and your brother never returned from the cave of this particular giant. You have decided you will go. You set off with spear in hand. Tartiar (30 life points, Level 3)

As you come into a grassy plain, Dahrmy the Mad Berserker rides up to you and challenges you to a fight. (Attacks use coins for each Level, flipped per turn)

You stand over the massacred old man. You take Dahrmy’s horse to ride, count his coins, and eat his food. After riding a ways, you get off your horse and grab your spear. In front of you there are 3 caves in a large cliff known as “Big Man’s Bluff”.

[Go in First Cave #4, Second Cave #5, Third Cave #6]

#1 Inside the gaping giant is asleep! (you have 2 attacks, before he attacks)

Giant (50 life points, Level 4) Mara (15 life points, Level 3)

[If you lose, go to #11] [If you win, continue reading]

You beat the Giant! You (and Mara if she is still with you) ride back to your tribe, with the head of the giant and become Chief! THE END

#2 You refuse Dahrmy. He calls you a whimp and rides away. You come to a large cave.

[Go in the large cave #7] [Keep walking #8]

#3 You lie on your face, defeated in shame. He rides away. Later a young woman cleric comes and heals you. She carries a quarter staff and will aid you in your battles. She says that she is on a quest to kill the giant too. [Go to #7]

#4 You enter the First Cave. You come to a small room which is dimly lit. There is a glowing sword ahead. You reach for it. A male nymph jumps out of the shadows! “You must pay for that!” says he. After negotiation the nymph accepts 5 gold coins that you give him in exchange for the magic sword and its sheath. (magic sword +1 on attacks)

[Leave and go to the Second Cave #5] [Leave and go to the Third Cave #6]

#5 You enter the Second Cave, walking deep within. A kobold jumps out!

[Flee #9] [Fight #10]

#6 You enter the Third and Largest Cave. You come to a very large room. A giant foot clomps in front of you! The battle with the Gaping Giant begins!

Sorry, these small subterranean dog-like feral creatures will not retreat, and eventually over come your height and strength advantages. You die a cold and bloody death in a dark carven tunnel. THE END

Joseph Conrad’s the Heart of Darkness, takes place in a world within a world. It is a microcosm that contains dark places of the human soul (a region that Conrad vividly explores). At the ‘heart’ of this ‘planet of darkness’ is a rebel who has thrown away society as he knew it. This metaphoric ‘heart’ applies gravity to the plot. The ‘heart’ is epitomized in the character Kurtz.

Kurtz, the European ivory trader, has cast off his ties with the outside world, and has taken it upon himself to control and master his surroundings (including the natives). Kurtz represents man’s tendency to revert to animal instincts, and to exploit the weaker, (or ignorant) of the species. He becomes God to the natives, undoubtedly expanding his already crazed ego to the point of explosion. For most of the story, Kurtz is the unseen legend or myth.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in separate worlds apart from our own. It supplies (however limited) an in-depth look at an intricate sub-world of our planet. Conrad may not exhibit the intricateness of such authors as C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien, but he definitely delves deep into the realm of creativity and human sub consciousness. Untold darkness lies within the mind of man.

Foot note: The plot for the famous film set in Vietnam (“Apocalypse Now”) is based on Heart of Darkness.

I spent many hot summer days living in a land of dreams and fantasy. Images and music such as this filled my time and my dreams. The world was less complicated, even so- fantasy was my escape. The youtube video is an attempt to recapture just a hint of my youth, to remind me of the long days gone by. Even now, I can almost reach this world of savages and nobles, of knights errant and maidens fair. A world of honor and quest, a world of bloodshed and travail. A world in which one really lived strong and brave.

After watching the GO GREEN Promontage 03 video on Youtube, with the music from Cruachan, I must confess I have not been familiar with this wonderful band. I have looked into their music and I am hooked. So I thought I would share a probably less known, and more local band that I truly enjoy. I wish I could see them more often than just waiting for the Ren Faire season, but they are named “The Musical Blades”. They are far different than Cruachan and I am not sure why I connected the two in my mind, although they both move me far more than any contemporary music does these days.

The Musical blades are a pirate act that performs regularly at the Faires in the Midwest, I am not sure their entire schedule (it is available on their website http://www.musicalblades.com/ ) but I believe they have worked Faires throughout several states in the Midwest. Some of my old vids have their music as backing, and if I can find the footage on my PC, I have some wonderful performances by them. They truly enjoy what they are doing and they love to involve the crowd in their often ribald songs.

Some of my best Faire memories of the last couple of years, is sitting in a little pub or pavilion with a full mug of ale, singing and stomping my feet with a mighty “HUZZZAHHH”.